Delaware: Small Wonder, Past and Present

A Videography


Delaware Personalities | Environment & Ecology | General History | General Interest & Current Issues | Recreation & Tourism | University of Delaware | Wilmington History

Delaware Personalities

* Annie and the Stars of Many Colors: A Portrait of Astronomer Annie Jump Cannon; Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics; 1993; 25m. VHS 3460
A dozen sixth-grade students visit the Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics to explore the childhood and career of a famous woman astronomer from Dover, Delaware who classified over 425,000 stars.

* Bridgeville: If You Lived Here You Would Be Home Now; Delaware Humanities Forum; 1996; 86m. VHS 4908
Jack Lewis talks about his life and work in the town of Bridgeville, Delaware. His art has touched many of the people in the town.

* Charles Allmond; Bitcom Productions, Inc.; 1998; 17m. VHS 7714
Delaware sculptor Charles Allmond discusses his life, his work, and his art while accompanying an exhibition of his works at the Hiram Blauvelt Art Museum.

* Charles Colombo: Painting the Town; Teleduction; 2002; 25m. VHS 9088
Noted Wilmington painter, Charles Colombo, discusses his life and work.

* Charles Parks: Working Artist; Teleduction; 1999; 28m. VHS 7096
Wilmington sculptor Charles Parks discusses his art.

* A Conversation With Jane E. Mitchell: African American Nurse; Hagley Museum and Library; 2003; 25m. VHS 9325
Jane E. Mitchell discusses the challenges she faced as an African American pursuing a career in nursing in the days of segregation. She was so successful that she now has a building named for her at the Delaware Psychiatric Center.

* Edward L. Loper: Prophet of Color; Teleduction; 1999; 35m. VHS 7186
African-American painter, Edward Loper of Delaware, discusses his life and philosophy of painting.

* Helen Farr Sloan: An Artistic Vision; Teleduction; 2000; 29m. VHS 8195
Delaware artist Helen Farr Sloan discusses her life, her art, and her husband, John Sloan.

* Howard Schroeder, Jack Lewis: Elemental Artists; Teleduction; 2000; 28m. DVD 4287
Explores the lives, art, and friendship of Jack Lewis and Howard Schroeder, painters from southern Delaware.

* John Dickinson: A Great Worthy of the Revolution; Delaware State Museums; 2005; 20m. DVD 2823
Born in Maryland and raised in Delaware, John Dickinson went on to become an influential political figure in colonial America and the new United States. This DVD explores his life and influence.

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Environment & Ecology

* Blackbird: Delaware’s Undiscovered Treasure; Delaware National Estuarine Research Reserve; 2005; 16m. DVD 2532
With its salt marshes, farmlands, and forests, the Blackbird Watershed, located along the border of Kent and New Castle Counties in Delaware, has somehow remained largely untouched and unnoticed for hundreds of years. Fortunately, as more Delawareans discover Blackbird, there are signs that the values that have historically protected it are alive and well. The Delaware National Estuarine Research reserve and others are working to protect the Blackbird Creek and its surrounding habitat.

* The Crabs, the Birds, the Bay; Bullfrog Films; 1997; 19m. VHS 5329
The interrelationship between horseshoe crabs and migratory shore birds in Delaware Bay is explored. The birds’ migration is carefully synchronized with the nesting crabs so that the ecological balance of the Bay is maintained.

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General History

* Celebrate the 1st State; WHYY, Inc.; 1987; 28m. VHS 697
This film describes Delaware’s involvement in history and tells why it is called the “small wonder” state.

* Experimental Village; Arden Films; 2000; 56m. VHS 7419
Arden was founded near Wilmington, Delaware by a group of utopians who believed in the single tax. This film includes pictures of the original founders as well as interviews with former and current residents.

* First Vote; University Media Services, University of Delaware; 1996; 53m. VHS 5042
The first arguments for and against women’s suffrage in Delaware are described in words and songs.

* Ghost Stories: The Ticking Tomb; SLTV; 1996; 16m. VHS 6061
Ed Okonowicz tells the story of the ticking tomb, which is located in an old church cemetery, not far from Newark.

* His Master’s Voice: The Marvelous Talking Machine; Teleduction; 2003; 35m. DVD 1221
Using historical text, scholarly interviews, location photography, archival sound, and period artifacts from the Johnson Victrola Museum in Dover, DE, His Master’s Voice follows the evolution of the fledgling recording industry—from the patent races of the early innovators through the formation of the Victor Talking Machine Company, its sale to RCA, and the creation of the English company EMI.

* History and Government of Delaware; University of Delaware; 1963; 15 videocassettes (28m. each). VHS 4115
A 15-part series on the history and government of Delaware originally broadcast by WHYY TV, Wilmington, Delaware.
Contents: pt. 1. The influence of geography on the development of Delaware; the boundaries of Delaware; Henry Hudson’s voyage, 1609.
pt. 2. The Dutch and Swedish settlements on the Delaware.
pt. 3. The English conquest of the Delaware, 1664; rule of the Duke of York and of William Penn.
pt. 4. The people of colonial Delaware, their churches and their economic life.
pt. 5. Delaware in the Revolution: independence and invasion (to the Battle at Cooch’s Bridge, Sept. 3, 1777).
pt. 6. Delaware in the Revolution (continued); the federal Constitution and its ratification.
pt. 7. Adjustment to the new nation; development of manufacturing; politics to the War of 1812.
pt. 8. The history of slavery in Delaware from colonial times to abolition in 1865.
pt. 9. The Civil War and its political background.
pt. 10. The effects of the Civil War; revision of the Constitution, 1897.
pt. 11. Politics in the twentieth century; the general assembly.
pt. 12. The Legislature and the Executive; the increasing business of state government.
pt. 13. The courts; counties, hundreds, and municipalities.
pt. 14. The transition from an agricultural to an industrial state.
pt. 15. Population changes (numbers, distribution, immigration); the history of education (includes brief history of Wilmington).

* Old Curtis Paper Mill, Newark, Delaware; Watershed Videoworks; 1997; 34m. DVD 4837
Donnie Miller, an employee with the Curtis Paper Company from 1953-1996, gives a detailed guided tour of the plant and its operations shortly after the mill completed its last run on Dec. 12, 1997.

* 75th Anniversary, 1920-1995: Delaware Celebrates a Woman's Right to Vote; Du Pont Visual Communications; 1995; 17m. VHS 4605
Historians and the descendents of suffragettes and female politicians from Delaware discuss the lives and experiences of some of Delaware's suffragettes and the woman’s suffrage movement.

* The ’62 Storm: Delaware’s Shared Response; 302 Stories; 2007; 55m. DVD 4887
Features firsthand accounts from people who lived through the devastating three-day Nor’easter in 1962 that claimed lives, homes, and property along the coastline throughout the mid-Atlantic.

* The Voices of Greenwood; Friends of the Greenwood Public Library; 2002; 24m. VHS 8591
History and Media Arts students at Wesley College, under the direction of Dr. Susanne Fox, created a visual history of the small town of Greenwood, Delaware. The voices are those of several Greenwood residents.

* Whispers of Angels: A Story of the Underground Railroad; Teleduction; 2001; 59m. DVD 3619
The Underground Railroad was the principal means used by slaves to escape their captivity. Two important “stationmasters,” Thomas Garrett and William Still, are depicted in this documentary on the Underground Railroad in Delaware.

* With All Deliberate Speed: The Legacy of Brown v. Board; Serviam Media Inc.; 2004; 59m. DVD 967
Documentary about the history of racial segregation in U.S. education in the U.S. leading up to the case of Brown v. the Board of Education and beyond.

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General Interest & Current Issues

* Delaware; Raintree Publishers; 1985; 13m. VHS 555
Shows the quality of life in Delaware as it describes various historical, social, cultural, economic, and recreational aspects of the state.

* Estamos Aquí (We Are Here); Teleduction; 2006; 89m. DVD 3687
Examines the evolving social, political, and economic landscape of Georgetown, Del., home to la large community of Guatemalan immigrants, who have fled their native land in search of opportunity and employment.

* Gears and Tears: A City Dying in Traffic; VideoNet Productions; 1997; 28m. VHS 7196
The traffic problems facing the city of Newark, Delaware are exposed by the President of the Newark Citizens Against Traffic, Nancy Turner.

* Kent County: The Heart of Delaware; Front Row Productions; 1992; 16m. VHS 4442
The cultural, historical, recreational, and economic benefits of living and working in Kent County Delaware are explained.

* New Century Waterfront: A Vision for the Rivers; Arden Media Resources; 1994; 13m. VHS 9392
Presents a look at the comprehensive plan for revitalizing the Brandywine and Christina Rivers.

* Ready—Or Not?; University of Delaware, Dept. of Communication; 2006; 44m. DVD 2840
University of Delaware students of COMM/POSC 425 present their 3-month-long broadcast news investigation into the state of disaster readiness in Delaware. The student documentarians go beyond threats of terrorism and weather to explore everyday dangers challenging Delaware’s readiness. They meet families living in the shadow of the nation's second-largest nuclear power plant. They discover unscreened cargo at the Port of Wilmington, and dangerous chemicals rolling past student dormitories and classrooms on freight trains dozens of times a day, while similar cargo is carefully routed around lawmakers in Washington, DC. Student journalists interview first responders and authorities at every level of government, discovering how little is known about these everyday threats.

* An Uncommon Vision; Teleduction; 1997; 29m. VHS 9086
Many of the programs and services provided by the Young Women’s Christian Association of Wilmington, Delaware are discussed.

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Recreation & Tourism

* Fort Delaware State Park: A Visitor’s Perspective; Fort Delaware Society; 1999; 19m. VHS 9507
Fort Delaware State Park, located on Pea Patch Island in the Delaware River, is the scene of a Civil War-era fortification and prison. It remained in use until after World War II.

* The Great Chesapeake Bay Bus Tour; ABC Video; 1994; 120m. VHS 4239
The hosts of Good Morning America tour the Chesapeake Bay region including parts of Maryland, Virginia, Washington, D.C., Delaware and Pennsylvania.

* Hotel du Pont; Film Ideas, Inc.; 2005; 30m. DVD 1777
An introduction to Wilmington’s Hotel du Pont, which rivals some of the finest hotels in Europe and is the recipient of the prestigious Gold Key Award for “Best Guest Room Design in the World.” Highlights the hotel’s history and role in the Wilmington community.

* Longwood Gardens: The First 100 Years; Longwood Gardens; 2005; 150m. DVD 3257
The complete story of Longwood Gardens, one of the world’s great horticultural showplaces. Includes 7 films made between 1932 and 1991.
Contents: Longwood Gardens: the first 100 years (2005, closed-captioned) — Longwood Gardens: a video visit throughout the year (1991) — Chrysanthemums at Longwood Gardens (1976) — The orchids of Longwood Gardens (1969) — The living gardens of Longwood (1966) — Waterlilies at Longwood (1964) — He who makes a garden works with God (1961) — Plant to gain twenty years (c.1932, silent, black & white).

* Longwood Gardens: A Video Visit Throughout the Year; Longwood Gardens; 1991; 29m. VHS 9717
History of Longwood Gardens with a focus on changes which occur in the garden throughout the year.

* Nothing Beats Fun; Teleduction; 2004; 54m. DVD 1743
Provides an interesting history of Rehoboth Beach, Delaware along with a look at Funland, an amusement park on the boardwalk run by four generations of the Fasnacht family.

* Punkin’ Chunkin’; Delaware Digital Video Factory; 2006; 112m. DVD 3533
Highlights the activities of the 21st annual Punkin’ Chunkin’ World Championship in Millsboro, Del. on Nov. 3-5, 2006.

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University of Delaware

* Building a Gift of Tomorrow; University of Delaware; 1998; 10m. VHS 5772
Gore Hall was built with a gift from Robert, Sarah, and Genevieve Gore, “one of the most significant and most generous gifts in its [the University of Delaware’s] entire history.” President Roselle is shown making this announcement on August 8, 1995 at a ceremony honoring the Gores. A photo montage of the construction of Gore Hall is also included.

* Delaware—“On the Rocks”; University of Delaware, Department of Residence Life; 1995; 26m. VHS 4399
Explores the myths and realities of alcohol consumption by students at the University of Delaware.

* Masterpiece; University of Delaware; 2002; 13m. VHS 8657
Examines Pierre S. Du Pont’s role in establishing and developing the campus of the University of Delaware. Discusses Du Pont’s system of giving (together with businessman and contemporary H. Rodney Sharp), which resulted in numerous opportunities for Delaware students, and his belief in a strong partnership between education and industry.

* Paul R. Jones Collection: New Student Convocation, 2004; University of Delaware; 4m. DVD 1705
Inaugural exhibition of the collection, Sept. 8, 2004-June 1, 2005, Mechanical Hall & Old College Galleries, University of Delaware. Shows excerpts from the Paul R. Jones collection at the University of Delaware.

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Wilmington History

* A Dream Deferred: Remembering the 1968 Occupation: The National Guard in Wilmington, DE; Teleduction/Delaware Humanities Forum; 2007; 39m. DVD 4604
Provides a brief glimpse of the civil rights movement in the United States in the 1950s and 1960s through film and audio clips and personal reminiscences. Depicts the rioting that took place in Wilmington, Del. after the assassination of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. in 1968, and the subsequent 9-month occupation of Wilmington by the National Guard. Includes remembrances by Joseph E. Johnson, Harry G. Haskell, Littleton P. Mitchell, Rev. Canon Lloyd S. Casson, John Taylor, James S. Sills, James M. Baker, Russell W. Peterson, and Judge Leonard L. Williams.

* History of the Wilmington Police; Wilmington, DE/WITN; 2003; 12m. DVD 2117
Provides a brief history of the Wilmington Police Dept.

* In the Dead Fire’s Ashes: The Lynching a Town Forgot; Full Circle Studios; 2004; 39m. DVD 2016
Documents the story of the murder of Helen Bishop, a 17-year old school girl, and the lynching of George White, a farm hand, who was arrested, but never tried. The lynching took place in June of 1903 in Wilmington, Del.

* The Launching of the Kalmak Nyckel; Teleduction; 1999; 55m. VHS 7972
Shipbuilder Allen Rawl describes the process of building and launching a replica of the Kalmar Nyckel, the first Swedish ship to arrive in America. Captained by Peter Minuit, the original ship landed at what would become Wilmington, Delaware in 1638. The replica was built by the Kalmar Nyckel Foundation.

* 1968: The Siege of Wilmington; WHYY, Inc.; 1989; 30m. VHS 6606
When Dr. Martin Luther King was assassinated in April 1968, many cities in America underwent rioting. Many states used their National Guard to quell the rioters. However, Wilmington, Delaware was the only city to have the Guard on patrol for 9 1/2 months. This film attempts to explain why Governor Charles Terry allowed this to occur.

* Opening the Door to Freedom: The Struggle for Equality in Delaware; The Historical Society of Delaware; 1990; 23m. VHS 2048
Documents the struggle by African-Americans to obtain freedom and equality in Delaware from the period just prior to the Civil War to the present. Highlights the contributions of various individuals including Thomas Garrett.

* The Story of Old Swede’s Church; Teleduction; 2000; 25m. VHS 9085
Old Swedes Church is the oldest church edifice in the United States still standing as built and still in use as a house of worship.

* Voices of a Small Town 100 Years Ago; WHYY, Inc.; 2001; 28m. VHS 7971
The words of Henry Seidel Canby, Jan Saunders Redding, Edward Cheney, Elizabeth Beacom and Dominick DiSabatino provide the backdrop to a description of the life and times of early 20th-century Wilmington, Delaware.

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This page is maintained by Meghann Matwichuk, Instructional Media Collection Department.

Last modified: 08/21/09